A construction accident in southwest Missouri claimed the life of a man on Saturday. As crews were working at a construction site for a seniors residential living facility in Carthage, a tragic accident occurred. According to authorities in Jasper County, 29-year-old Luis R. Estrada fell approximately 11 feet out of a wooden box that was sitting on a tractor’s forks. The box fell on top of Estrada, striking his head. Emergency crews transported him to a hospital in Joplin where he was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident to determine if any violations were committed.
Construction jobs are one of the most dangerous occupations ranking with firefighters and police officers. While dangerous occupations can result in accidents that injure and kill workers, so can any other occupation. Workplace accidents happen thousands of times each year and those injured are often left struggling to make ends meet. In Missouri, workers injured while on the job are provided worker’s compensation insurance benefits if employed by a company with five or more employees. The benefits provide medical coverage and replace lost wages, but only at a rate of 66.6% of the worker’s average weekly wage. Individuals that do not receive their full wages can be placed into a stressful situation that was caused by the negligence of others.
The Meyerkord & Kurth St. Louis worker’s compensation lawyers believe that when a workplace accident happens you should not have to suffer more damages due to the lack of wages replaced. Our attorneys will fight aggressively to recover the compensation you deserve for your damages while communicating throughout the process of the case. If you have sustained a work-related accident, contact us today for a free no-obligation consultation.